Cable lock assembly for outlet box

Abstract

A cable lock assembly includes first and second members pivotally interconnected and defining a cable receiving slot. The members have interlocking means defining a closed position to securely grip the cable between the members. In one version, the second member has a locking cleat pivoted thereon and the locking cleat has sharp edges that bite into the cable. In another version, the interlocking means includes a pair of projections on one member and two spaced pairs of recesses on the other member that define two locked positions for the members.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In an electrical outlet box having at least one knock-out hole in one wall, a cable lock assembly including a first member having a locking lip defining a recess receiving a free edge of said knock-out hole to secure said assembly to said outlet box, said first member having a first cable engaging surface generally aligned with said hole and having a pair of legs extending away from said surface, a second member pivotally supported on said legs of said first member, said second member having a portion engaging said one wall adjacent said knock-out hole in said closed position to substantially enclose said hole and lock said assembly in said outlet box, said second member having a second cable engaging surface pivotal toward said first cable engaging surface to grip a cable therebetween. 
     
     
       2. An outlet box as defined in claim 1, in which said second member includes a manually grippable portion pivoted between first and second positions on said legs and a locking cleat pivotal on said grippable portion and having said second cable engaging surface defined thereon. 
     
     
       3. An outlet box as defined in claim 2, in which said locking cleat is generally triangular with said second cable engaging surface defined by a base of said triangle with said base having extensions defining edges and said first cable engaging surface has projections with said projections and edges cooperating to grip said cable. 
     
     
       4. An outlet box as defined in claim 2, in which said locking cleat is generally square with said second cable engaging surface defined by each of the four sides of said cleat with each of said sides having an indentation defining edges and said cable engaging surface has projections with said projections and edges cooperating to grip said cable. 
     
     
       5. An outlet box as defined in claim 2, in which said manually grippable portion has a pair of legs pivotally supported on said legs of said first member and said locking cleat is pivotally supported between said legs of said manually grippable portion. 
     
     
       6. An outlet box as defined in claim 5, in which each leg of said manually grippable portion has a projection extending therefrom and each leg of said first member has a recess for receiving a projection and in which said first member has a locking lip defining a recess for receiving an edge of a bottom wall of said outlet box and said manually grippable portion has an extension engaging said one wall to lock said assembly in said outlet box when said projections are in said recesses. 
     
     
       7. An outlet box as defined in claim 2, in which said second member has projection means engaging an opposite edge of said knock-out hole opposite said free edge to secure said assembly to said outlet box. 
     
     
       8. A cable lock assembly for use with an outlet box having a cable received therein, comprising a first member having a base portion with a base surface, and a pair of legs extending from opposite sides thereof, a second member pivotally supported between said legs of said first member, said second member having a cable engaging surface cooperating with said base surface to freely and slidably receive a cable therebetween, said second member having an element pivotally supported thereon with said cable engaging surface defined thereon, said second member being pivoted to a second position to lock said cable between said members. 
     
     
       9. A cable lock assembly as defined in claim 8, in which said second member includes a manually grippable element having a pair of legs depending therefrom with the legs of said members having a pivotal connection to accommodate pivotal movement of said surfaces toward each other. 
     
     
       10. A cable lock assembly as defined in claim 8, in which said second member has projections on opposite sides of said cable engaging surface and said legs have a first pair of respective recesses receiving said projections defining a first locked position for said members and a second pair of respective recesses defining a second locked position for said members. 
     
     
       11. A cable lock assembly as defined in claim 8, in which said second member has a generally triangular locking cleat pivoted about an apex thereof with said cable engaging surface defined on a base of said locking cleat spaced from said apex, said base of said locking cleat having projections at opposed ends thereof defining edges extending transversely between said legs and said base surface having at least one projection located intermediate said edges when said second member is in said second position. 
     
     
       12. A cable lock assembly as in claim 8, in which said second member has a generally square locking cleat pivoted about a central portion thereof with said cable engaging surface defined as any one of said four sides of said cleat, each of said sides of said cleat having an indentation defining edges extending transversely between said legs and said base surface having at least one projection located intermediate said edges when said second member is in said second position. 
     
     
       13. A cable lock assembly as defined in claim 8, in which said first member has a locking lip defining a recess adapted to receive an exposed edge of a bottom wall of said outlet box and said second member has spaced projections adapted to engage an opposite edge of said knock-out hole to lock said assembly to said outlet box. 
     
     
       14. In an electrical outlet box having sidewalls and a bottom wall with a knock-out hole at one juncture between said bottom wall and one sidewall and an exposed edge of said bottom wall located adjacent said hole, a cable lock assembly including a first member having a base supported on said bottom wall with said base having an integral lip defining a recess receiving said exposed edge and a pair of legs extending from opposed edges of said base to define a cable receiving space aligned with said hole, a second member pivotally supported between said legs and having a cable engaging surface, said second member having an open position and a closed position with said cable engaging surface cooperating with said base to grip a cable in said closed position, said second member having a portion engaging said one sidewall in said closed position to lock said assembly in said box, and interlocking means between said second member and said legs of said first member defining said closed position. 
     
     
       15. An electrical outlet box as defined in claim 14, in which said second member includes a manually grippable portion pivoted between said legs and a locking cleat pivoted on said manually grippable portion with said cleat having spaced cable engaging edges and in which said base has at least one rib extending therefrom and located between said edges when said members are in said second position. 
     
     
       16. An electrical outlet box as defined in claim 15, in which said cleat has spaced recesses extending generally parallel to said edges. 
     
     
       17. An electrical outlet box as defined in claim 14, in which said interlocking means includes a pair of projections extending from said second member with said legs each having a pair of spaced recesses adapted to receive said projections and defining first and second closed positions. 
     
     
       18. An electrical outlet box as defined in claim 17, in which each leg has a slot extending from an edge thereof with said slot having a pair of projections defining said pair of spaced recesses. 
     
     
       19. An electrical outlet box as defined in claim 14, in which said portion includes at least one projection engaging an edge of said knock-out hole on said one sidewall which is opposite said exposed edge to lock said assembly in said outlet box.